Motorized RF wireless controlled tubing storage device for home therapeutic oxygen use patients

ABSTRACT

Therapeutic oxygen tubing length is controlled with this device, using a wireless RF remote, utilizing a low voltage motor, a torque activated clutch for rewind/free-wheeling unwind operation and has a simple spool/tubing change out process without the need of tools.

We: William F. Handleyjr., Mitchel E. Jardine, and Raymond C. Andersen; citizens of the USA, have invented a motorized RF wireless controlled tubing storage device for home therapeutic oxygen use patients. The device allows the patient to control the length of tubing on the floor reducing a serious tripping safety hazard. This is not an improvement on an existing device but is a new idea.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 Top view of the device.

1. Represents the main enclosure made of ⅜″ thick HDPE plastic with approximate dimensions of 10″ high × 9″ wide × 11″ deep with a vertical inner wall that separates the spool and the motor compartments.

2. Represents the motor control circuit board. This board has an over current control circuit and a motor direction control circuit. The over current circuit will shut down the motor in the event of a motor stall and will have a manual reset. The motor direction control circuit is used for the rewind and clutch release functions.

3. Represents the radio receiver circuit board. The receiver is controlled by a small battery operated transmitter that the patient carries. When the transmitter is activated the receiver turns on the motor for the rewind function and when the transmitter button is released the transmitter turns off and the rewind function stops. The patient has complete control of the device through the transmitter.

4. Represents the 12 volt DC motor used for tubing rewind operation.

5. Represents the gear reduction box that produces a rewind speed of 30 rpm. This gear reduction produces a 1′ /second linear tubing rewind speed.

6. Represents the motor/gearbox mount attached to the vertical inner enclosure wall.

7. Represents a torque activated clutch that engages and disengages the motor to the tubing spool. When the transmitter is activated the motor turns on and the clutch is engaged to the tubing spool. When the transmitter is turned off the motor control circuit reverses the motor direction momentarily, disengaging the clutch from the spool, leaving the spool in a free-wheeling condition. The tubing can then be pulled from the spool with very little effort. The clutch drum attached to the inner spool cap serves also as the spool inner bearing.

8. Represents the tubing spool consisting of two 8″ diameter end caps, with a 4″ diameter hollow drum 2″ in length. The end caps are made of 3/8″ thick HDPE plastic, the same material as the enclosure. The spool inner end cap and drum have a spiral groove cut, allowing the patient tubing supply end to be brought inside the spool drum and attach to the oxygen swivel, and the rest of the tubing is wound on the outside of the spool drum. The spool will accommodate a 50′ length of tubing.

9. Represents the outside spool bearing ring made of TEFLON.

10. Represents the oxygen swivel, (Salter Labs Tubing Connector # 1220). Half of swivel is mounted through the outside spool end cap at the spool axis and the other half is mounted through the enclosure outer wall, in star shaped holes. Supply oxygen passes through the swivel to the center of the spool drum and then to the patient tubing on the spool. Note: The clutch drum and the TEFLON ring are the spool bearings, not the oxygen swivel.

11. Represents a protection cover for the outside port of the oxygen swivel.

12. Represents a spring tensioned double roller tubing guide that helps eliminate tubing kinks during rewind and controls tubing pullout speed. The tubing travels from the spool drum towards the back and down, keeping the tubing closer to the bottom of the enclosure as it comes to the roller guides then exiting the device through a slot in the enclosure front wall. This keeps the tubing as close to the floor as possible.

13. Represents the enclosures'outer wall release latch and two hinge pins used to secure and open the spool-side enclosure wall, giving access to the tubing spool for periodic spool/tubing replacement.

14. The tubing/spool replacement process is as follows: The concentrator oxygen supply tube is disconnected from the outer swivel port. The spool-side outer enclosure wall latch is released and the wall is lifted from the device. The patient tubing end is then released from between the roller guides by swinging the hinged roller out. The spool/tubing and swivel assembly are then removed. A new spool/tubing/swivel unit is then placed in the enclosure, the patient tubing end is placed between the roller guides. The swivel star and wall patterns are aligned and the wall is latched into place. No tools are necessary for this procedure. 

1. This device will reduce the tripping hazards caused by twists and tangles in excess therapeutic oxygen tubing by controlling the length of the tubing on the floor, with a wireless RF motor controlled spool.
 2. The torque activated clutch, connects the motor to the tubing spool only during the rewind function, then leaves the spool in a free-wheeling condition, reducing the effort necessary to pull the tubing from the spool.
 3. The motor controlled rewind operation is far superior and safer than using a spring retraction system.
 4. Possible tripping hazards will be reduced with the tubing exiting the device at floor level.
 5. The spool/tubing/swivel replacement procedure is not complicated and is simple to perform. 